Workday Wednesday - 09 09 20
Yes, the Ninth Day of the Ninth Month
A small gathering assembled at Fred's for Workday Wednesday yesterday morning.
We marveled over the wonderful lighthouse...
...guarding the pond...
...overlooking the abyss...
...from its perch in Cedar Rock.
Oh, by the way...
...have you noticed the light revolving as you scroll through these images?
Indeed, Seanna and Steve installed a circuit along with a series of LED lights that create the illusion the lamp is circulating atop the lighthouse. Alas...nothing mechanical here. Fred tells us that Seanna and Steve can program the speed of rotation...very interesting!
Bernie and Lawrence check over the surroundings near Ironwood.
Fred and Robin keep a safe physical distance from each other...
...in the eastern shade.
I point out a faulty turnout throw Marcel and I experienced at the western end of Bell where the siding for Brunt's Brewery is located.
Lawrence removes a mushroom growth with his pocket knife...
...and then uses his pocket knife to adjust the angle and height of the L-shaped metal bracket. In two shakes of a jiffy, he has the throw working perfectly.
I point out a second turnout throw that did not work on Saturday...
...the turnout on the western entrance to Mercer Siding.
Fred gets out the lubricating oil...
...and I have fun lubricating everything on earth around the choke cable! Hehehe!
Just kidding...Fred tells me I'm a pro and I am now "hired on" with the railroad!
So we get down to business repairing the turnout throw. It seems the little wire between the L-shaped throw and the switch itself was wearing thin and bent. Time for a replacement wire and a slight repositioning of the L- bracket further from the ties.
Let's check back at the lighthouse, shall we!
Yup, the assembly is moving...
...or at least appears to be moving...
...as I mentioned earlier...there is nothing mechanical here...
...just a series of smaller lights dancing to the proper rhythm they were assigned.
I head over to the Brennan Gap where I find Lawrence occupied with the new span.
Those bents look amazing!
Lawrence installs one bend and checks the level.
He explains to me the process...
First he grabs a bent and turns it upside down.
He places it beside the deck of the bridge.
He makes a mark on the legs where the cut is required for each of the four legs on a single bent.
Lawrence then turns the span upside-down.
He explains how the spacing goes and how further bracing will be placed from bent to bent.
I spot the platform for the water barrels.
The wood sure looks beautiful when wet.
The other water barrel platform.
Meanwhile, back in the lounge Bernie takes a short coffee break from work.
Robin has arrived and pays a visit.
Fred grabs himself a cushion...
...and kneels to say his prayers.
He faces north instead of other directions where many kneel at prayer time from an Ottawa geographical perspective.
Fred removes the throw...
...and places a new short wire between the throw and the turnout...
...and in no time, "Bob's Your Uncle"...with a bit of staple work...
...this task is done with a perfectly working turnout throw from the upper post!
Fred was concerned the structure for the Watson Siding in Cedar Rock was getting damaged from all of the moving about in the freight car tray shed...
...so he placed it in Spruce for a while.
Looks good there too!
Another job for another sunny day will find Fred and friends adding a couple of choke cable throws for the far and near turnout into the Mount St. Helens siding and the industrial spur area.
Oh yes...
...back to the bridges spanning the "gut" or the "gap".
Since this is now officially the Brennan Gap, the third bridge Doug had alluded to in a previous e-mail will now be officially known as the "Patrick Brennan Bridge"...a nice bit of sound coming off the tongue with a tad bit of alliteration, I say! Pat has been running trains for quite a while with the group and has yet been honoured with a siding, industry or place name.
The middle bridge, the "Lawrence Watkins Bridge" will look amazing when refurbishments are complete.
As for the time being, it will stand beside the "Fred Mills Bridge"...awaiting a grand opening at some time in the future.
As mentioned in an earlier posting, this span is one gorgeous piece of modelling! Fred did a masterful job on the deck and Lawrence built all of the bents which will be put in place in short order. Brian gave the group his pin nailer which came in handy to hold the ties in place before his move down to the Carolinas.
George made up a set of rail gauges to help Fred hand lay the rail. Chris E. and Doug M. cut most of the ties and lumber for the trestle. A true team effort!
I couldn't resist this close-up shot of one of our evergreens.
This lovely piece adds some authenticity to the railroad.
Our fish at Peter's Pond is now upright again.
The fishery will hopefully see some new business when the trains run again.
As for the Cedar Rock Light...
...it continues to turn...
...or that is the illusion anyway!
While Cedar Rock itself could see some track amendments...
...in the future...
...as we await the filling in of the pond...
...and the building of the memorial patio...
...with a potential new track arrangement...
...but for the time being...
...we continue to enjoy...
...the friendship...
...and colour...
...which abounds on the property...
...of the IPP&W and RP&M railroads.
Hey, the newly retired Mr. Hamer is so happy he does not have to head back to school after his 40 year career in the classroom. For a bit of humour, check out this five minute video on the rules for going back to school. Don't click on the top image...scroll down slightly to the same image with the video start button.
(You will have to scroll across the red video link below and then right click to head to it.)
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/moms-viral-video-confusion-surrounding-school-year-hilarious-72793938
Continue to stay safe, healthy and happy!
All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
No comments:
Post a Comment